Oil-well-regulation method and means



. 1927. June 28 J. F. RYAN OIL WELL REGULATION METHOD AND MEANS V2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jul'y y15, v1925 :giggling-Erie:

1,634,085 J. F. RYAN OIL WELL REGULATION METHOD ND MEANS Filed July 13, 192,5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 0A w// /Q y v Z c L Vw// June 28, *1927- W Si @m @eng Cp @W www@ Patented June 28, 1927.

vUNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH F. RYAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OIL-WELL-REGULATION METHOD kAND MEANS.

Application led July 13, 1925.

The invention relates to a method and apy paratus for regulating the flow of oil from oil wells and relates more particularly to oil Wells whichy produce by pumping, and un- 'der conditions Where the oil flow is likely to be impeded and obstructed by reason of the accumulation of Water Within the'well from the producing sand or strata or other sources.

The invention contemplates as a principal object the provision of a method' and apparatus Whereby'a material extent of t-lie surface ofv the oil producing area constituting the wall of t-he Well is protected from the Water by a continuously maintained col- L umn of oil; and the protective oil column is maintainedA adjacent the oil producing surface by means of a separate and independent column of Water which cooperates with the oil column;

The invention contemplates further the utilization of the marked variance in thev specific gravity between Water and the crude oil (about 25% in Pennsylvania crude oil) as a means of maintaining lthe aforementioned separate and independent oil and Water columns. I

A further object of the invention is to pro- '.vide an apparatus or device which is designed to continuously maintain the face of the producing strata covered with oil to prevent the strata from drying up, and to thereby maintain ay pressure against the producing strata in order to prevent the too rapid escape of gas. In this manner the producing strata is rendered capable of producing oil with the proper gas pressure until the strata has bsen completely exhausted of its oil content.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described ,by means of which oil producing levels or strata of' varying thickness may be continuously covered with ,oil

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for carrying out the improved process, which is composed of a minimum of parts, capable of economical manufacture, and which may befconveniently assembled and positioned at any desired and practicable level in an oil Well. After the devices have been assembled and positioned Within the Well, the same may be conveniently removed for inspection and replacement, and arek continuously operative without attention to obtain the improvements and advantages desired.

Serial No. 43,350.

It -will be understood that by the invention a double purpose is effected, namely,

the oil producing strata in the Well is pro` tected and prevented from drying up, and the gas Which is an active factor in producing oil is prevented from escaping too rapidly, the flow of vgas being such that the `maximum amount of oil is carried thereby to the surface of tlieproducing sand.

In oil Wells which produce -by pumping, it

is important and desirable to maintain the Y oil producingstrata or sand completely covered with oil at all times. This is for the reason that otherwise the paraftine Will solidify and clouF the pores of the sand, thereby impeding the passage therethrough of the oil. It is also importantand desirable to prevent Water from standing on the producing sand for the reason that the tendency of the Water is to penetrate the sand and drive the oil away as Well as entrapping the oil in the sand. It has heretofore been foundimpraeticable to obtain oil from two different levels in the saine Well for the reason that the upper level is exposed and therefore will rapidly dry up. The present invention provides a method' and means for keeping the face of the producing sand constantly covered with oil, thereby-preventing Water from accumulating on the sand, and is further of such nature that the same may be employed In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accoml panying drawings means for carrying the same into lpractical effect, without limiting the improvements, in their useful applications, to the particular constructions and procedure which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject-of illustration. In the said drawings Fig. l is a vertical Sectional View of a pre- 45 rod tubing 3. An outer casin ferred embodiment of the invention as positioned within an oil well shot hole.

Fig. 2 is a similar View somewhat enlarged and diagrammatic in character to better illustrate the principle of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating a slight modification of the invention. Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates an oil well shot hole'or boring having frictionally or otherwise suitably positioned therein at the'desired level the usual packer 2. The pump rod is shown at 3 and may be a tubular 16 member extending downwardly into the well and through a central aperture 4 in the packer. The pump rod tubing 3 and packer 2 form no part of thepresent invention and are of standard types employed in pumping 20 oil wells of the type in which the present invention is designed to be used. The packer 2 is generally employed for'installing a liner in an oil well and is lowered to the desired position by means of tubing which is employed to set the packer after which the tubing is released and removed from the well.. The packer is held solidly in place by its tendency to expand against the walls of the hole. A usual form of packer is about three to four feet in length and is of an expanding nature.) When it is lowered in the hole a turn of the tubing releases a support at the top of the packer and the top is then compressed against the bottom by letting the weight of the tubing or casing down upon it. The rubber casing of the packer grips the wall of the v hole and seats itself soy firmly that it is generally removed by destroying the rubber.

Aniinner tubular casing or member 5 is supported by the packer 2, and preferably the lower end of the casing 5 is threaded into the packer as shown at 6.`- The casing 5 is of a diameter suiiicient to provide ample clearance between the same and the pum is providel and is indicated at 7. As il ustrated, the

outer casing 7 is of larger diameter than the inner casing 5 and is also preferably of greater length. The outer casing is designed to surround the inner casing, and its lower end may rest loosely on the packer 2 to be supported thereby he upper ends of the inner and outer c sings are suitably flared outwardly as shown at 8, 8, to facilitate the insertion therethrough of the pump rod tubing 3; and it will be further apparent that the outward flaring of the top of the inner casing 5 assists in spacing the casing within the walls of the outer casing 7, while 00 the outward flaring of the top .of the outer casing 7 assists in spacin the latter within the walls of the well or oring 1.

The wall of the inner casing member 5 is illustrated as smooth and unbroken, but the outer casing member 7 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially disposed spaced apertures 9 which may be of any desired or preferred'number. The distance between thevapertures 9 and the packer 2 may vary depending upon working conditions encountered inpractice. In Fig. 11y the aperturesy are located at a considerable distance above the packer, in order that any considerable quantity of loose sand from the shot hole will drop below these apertures and between the latter and the packer 2 to avoid clogging or obstructing the apertures. In Fig. 4 the openings orapertures are located comparatively close to the packer 2, and this latter arrangement maybe employed where there is little or no loose sand in the shot hole likely to drop down and obstruct the o enings 9.

An oil pro ucing sand or stratum is indicated at-10 and the devices described are so positioned within the well and supported by the packer 2 in such manner that the upper end of the outer casing 7 extends for some distance above the upper limitsof this oil producing area. The water accumulating in the well, and which may originate from the Zone 10 or from the water producing zones above the packer 2, by reason of its greater density (approximately 25% heavier than Pennsylvania crude oil) passes through `the apertures and builds up a column 11 between the inner and outer concentrically disposed casings 5 and 7. The oil exuding from the oil producing sand or zone 10, by

reason of its specific gravity of approxlmately 25% less than water, accumulates within the well on the exterior of the outer casing 7 and forms -a column 12 which is supported by the hydrostatic pressure of the water column 11. The respective dimensions ofthe inner and outer casings 5 and 7 are such that the lower extremity 13 of the`oil vcolumn 12 is maintained by the watercolumn 11 'above the line of the apertures 9, and oil is thereby prevented from entering said apertures into the space between the casings occupied by the water column 11. The excess of water accumulating within the well above the packer is discharged over the upper edge `8 of the inner casing 5 into the bottom of the well, while the excess of oil accumulating on the outside of the outer casing is dischargedover the upper edge 8a thereof into the well.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by means of the described arrangement of the apparatus, a continuous and uninterrupted column of oil is maintained against 'the entire extent of the oil producing sand, and the access of water thereto is thereby prevented. The protective coverl ing of oil on the face of the producing'sand prevents the water from entering the saine to drive away the oil, by reason of the greater density of the water, and this. protective oil covering further prevents oil from being'entrapped by the water within the sand of the producing strata.

The oil flowing over the rim of the outer casing into the well is or may be pumped out by means of the pump tubing 3 according to known and established methods. It is to be understood-tliat the proportions of the inner and outer casings 5 and 7 and the locations of the apertures 9 in the louter casings with respect to the packer, may be varied according to conditions encountered in the operation of the wells, and by increasing the length of the respective casings, the entire surface of oil producin strata of varying areas may be complete and continuously covered with oil.

The protective oil covering over the surface of the oil pioducing -sand results in a more even and uninterrupted flow of oil from the sand, as well as rendering'the oil strata capable lof ,producing to its utmost extent until the entire supply vof oil is eX- haiisted. The protective covering effectively prevents-water from entering the sand and trapping a certain proportion of the oil with consequent detriment to the effective and prolonged production of the producing sand.

The invention has been illustratedwith the outer space or column 12 as consisting mainly of oil, and the inner space or column 11 as consisting entirely of water. It will be understood, however, that these proportions are merely illustrative of one practical embodiment of the invention. By increasing the height of the outer casing member 7 and assuming the producing sand capable of sufficient pressure to raise the column of oil to a height greater than is necessary to balance the inner column of water in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, the oil would drop down a distance suflicient to permit it to enter the apertures 9. In thisgevent the oil being much light-er than the water would ascend to the surface more ra idly and be discharged over the rim 8 of t e inner casing 5 into the bottom of the well through the aperture 4 in the packer 2. It will be further apparent that by increasing the len th of the casing 7 column 12 of oil may e eX- tended upwardly to any desired height above the sand or strata 10 to retard the escape from the sand offree gas.

In using the apparatus constitutin present invention it is intended to dril the well for a considerable depth below the producing sand, say to 100 feet or more, in order to provide a reservoir' for lthe fluid flowing over the inner and outer casing members. The fluid, consisting of water and oil, is designed to be pumped from the bottom of the well. Assuming the well to be. drilled 100 feet below the producin sand, the well will accommodate about 4 arrels of fluid. In the event that the well produces the f 2 barrels a day it is only necessary to pump the same every two days in order to keep the well clear. The apparatus covered by the present invention performs the desired results continuously and Without attention as long as the well is productive. The presence of the' protective covering of oil against the surface of the sand provides the desired pressure to retard the escape of the free gas and insures thatA the latter shall bring forth its maximum amountl ofl oil.

What I claim is 1. The method of preventing the access of waterto the surface of oil producing strata within an oil well, which consists in trapping the oil and water within lthe well, maintaining a protective covering of' oil adjacent the ,surface of the oil producing Strata, and maintaining a column of water adjacent said column of oil, whereby the higher specific gravity of the water supports the oil column in contact with said oil producing surface, and the water is displaced therefrom.

2. The method of regulating the fiow of oil from oil wells which consists in maintaining a column of oil within the well adjacent tlie surface of the oil producing strata, and supporting said oil column by means of a column of water, whereby said water is prevented from contacting with the'surface of said oil producing strata. y

3. The method of regulating the flow of oil from oil wells which consists in constantly maintaining a protective covering of oil on the circumferential surface of the oil producing strata within the well by means of hydrostatic pressure.

4. The method of preventing the access of water to the surface of the oil producing strata within an oil4 well, which consists in trapping the oil 'and water within the well, maintainingI a protective covering of oil against the surface of the oilA producing strata, and maintaining a laterally connected column of water adjacent said column of oil, whereby the hydrostatic pressure of the water column supports the oil column in contact with said oil producing surface, and the water is excluded therefrom. I

5. An apparatus for regulating the fiow of oil from oil wells, comprising in combination: apacker positioned within an oil well, an inner casing on said packer, an outer ca sing on said packer, and spaced from said inner casing, said outer casing having an opening for communication between the oil column space and the space between said casings, the space between said outer casing and the wall of the well being designed to receive a column of oil and the space between said inner and outer casings being designed to receive a column of water, said water reaching said space` between said casingsthrough said opening and maintaining said oil column on the exterior of said outer casing by the higher specific gravity of said water column.

6. An apparatus for regulating the flow of oil from oil wells, comprising in combination: a packing member positioned within an oil well boring, a plurality of casing members supported by said packing member, the innermost of said casing members being .disposed within ythe adjacent casing member and spaced therefrom, and the outermost of said 'casing members being spaced from the walls of the well boring and terminating at its upper end at a higher level than the top of the innermost casing member, said outermost casing member being arranged to afford communication between the spaces on each side thereof from below the tops of said casing members, whereby separate fluid columns are maintained in said oil well.

7 An apparatus for regulating the flow o oil from oil wells, comprising in combination: a packing member positioned within an oil` well borin a plurality vof casing members supporte by said packing member, the innermost of said casing members being disposed within the adjacent casing member and spaced therefrom, and the outermost of said casing members being spaced from the walls of the well boring adjacent the oil producing strata and communicating with the space between said casings, whereby fluid columns of fluids of different specific gravity are maintained in Said oil well by the hydrostatic pressure of the inner fluid column so that the oil in the outer fluid column is maintained in contact with the oil producing strata.

8. An apparatus for preventing the access of water to the surface of oil producing strata. in an oil Well, `comprising in combination: a packing member positioned lwithin' an oil well boring, a pair of casing members supported by said packing member adjacent the oil producing strata, one of said casing members being disposed within the other and spaced therefrom, and the other of said casing members beiig spaced from the walls of said well boring, and means affording commnnication between said casing members, whereby laterally connected fluid columns are maintained by hydrostatic pressure in -said oil well above said packing member,

and the outer fluid column is maintained in contact with the oil producing strata.

9. An apparatus for regulating the flow of oil from an oil well, comprising in combination: a packing member positioned within an oil well boring, a plurality of casing members supported by said packing member, the innermost of said easing members being disposed within the adjacent casing member and spaced therefrom and the outermost of said casing members being spaced from the walls of the well boring and apertured for communication between v the spaceson each side of said outermost casing member, whereby fluid columns of different heights are maintained within said spaces by hydrostatic pressure. i

10. An apparatus for regulating the flow of oil from an oil well, comprisingin combination: a packing member disposed within an oil well boring, a plurality of casing members disposed above said packing member, the innermost of said casing members being contained within the adjacent casing member and spaced therefrom, and the outermost of said casing members 'being spaced from the walls of the Well boring adjacent the oil producing sand thereof and apertured for communication between the spaces on each side of said outermost casing member, whereby laterally connected fluid columns of dill'ercnt density are maintained within said spaces, and the fluid column of lesser density is maintained within the outer of said spaces in contact with said oil producing .sand by the hydrostatic pressure of the Huid column of greater density contained within the inner of said spaces.

ll. The method ofiregulating the flow of oil from oil wells which consists in constantly maintaining a protective covering of oil within the well adjacent 'the surface of the oil producing strata, and supporting said oil column by means of a balancing column of water, whereby the escape of' free gas from the producing strata is retarded and the life of the well rprolonged.

12. The method of regulating the flow of oil from oil wells which consists in constantly maintaining an hydraulically balanced protective covering of oil on the surface of the oil producing strata whereby the pressure of said oil covering retards the escape of gas from said strata.

18. Apparatus forv maintaining a protective oil column to the depth required to keep covered with oil the exposed surface of the oil-bearing stratum or strata in an oil well comprising, invcombinationz an inner casing .to confine a balancing water column; a higher outer casing to confine an oil column, said outer casing being spaced from said inner casing and from the wall of the well; said outer casing being arranged to afford communication between the two spaces from below the depth of the required oil column; the difference in the height of the outer casing to confine the oil column and the inner casing to confine the balancing water column being substantially that fraction of the total depth of' the required oil column which measures the difference between the specific gravitites of the oil and water, whereby the oil column is maintained to a suflicient depth to keep covered with oil the exposed surface of the oil-bearing stratum or strata.

14. A method of maintaining a protective oil column to the depth required to keep covered with oil the exposed surface of the oil-bearingr stratum or strut-u in un oil well which consists in maintaining :L column of. 011 within the Well adjacent the surface of the oil producing stratum or strata and supporting said column of oil by means of a shorter column of water, the difference in the height of the column of oil and the b211- ancing column of Water being substantially that fraction of the total depth Vof the required oil column which measures the difference between the specific gravities of the oil and the water, whereby the oil colurmlfls maintained to a Suiicient depth ftd keep covered with oil the exposed surface of the oilbearing stratum or strata.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sety my hand.

JOSEPH F. RYAN. 

